as in to brace
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
I have to psych myself up before every swimming competition
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in soul
an immaterial force within a human being thought to give the body life, energy, and power
disturbing, enigmatic paintings that seem to embody the psyche of this brilliant but troubled artist
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mind
the part of a person that feels, thinks, perceives, wills, and especially reasons
a novel that explores the psyche of a depressed teen
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Recent Examples of psych (up)
Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026
Seeing a conversion therapist did, however, do immeasurable damage to my psyche.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
The tech giant continues to exert a strong pull on the collective cultural psyche 50 years after its April 1, 1976, founding.
—Chloe Veltman, NPR, 1 Apr. 2026
Khorus Harmonia hatched organically, a lot having to do with the seismic changes contracting Hollywood and runaway production that is roiling the psyches of everyone who makes a living in its ecosystem.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for psych (up)
Noun
The metric tracks shopper psyche through public polling conducted throughout the middle of the month.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026
Seeing a conversion therapist did, however, do immeasurable damage to my psyche.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
The tech giant continues to exert a strong pull on the collective cultural psyche 50 years after its April 1, 1976, founding.
—Chloe Veltman, NPR, 1 Apr. 2026
Khorus Harmonia hatched organically, a lot having to do with the seismic changes contracting Hollywood and runaway production that is roiling the psyches of everyone who makes a living in its ecosystem.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for psych (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for psych (up)
Verb
-
Frustration over rising power bills is a common complaint in California, and the state is bracing for increases in power consumption as the use of artificial intelligence grows.—
James Taylor,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Tornadoes, hail slam the Heartland More than 50 million people across the Midwest and Plains are bracing for severe weather on Tuesday, a day after baseball-sized hail and multiple tornadoes were reported in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Kansas.—
Kenton Gewecke,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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To inject personality without overwhelming the space, the designer suggests layering in vintage items and bringing in pieces with soul for instant depth.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Apr. 2026
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Unexpected touches are the soul of a maximalist home.—
Kelsey Legg,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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With the expansion North Texas is seeing, preparing tomorrow's leaders is top of mind for Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker.—
Briseida Holguin,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Infielder Hyeseong Kim had his mind set before the game.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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His career essentially bestrides the slow-to-grow Before Times and the apparent soccer paradise of today, which was fortified by remarkable facilities, boosted by an ideal central location and forged by an eagerly welcoming host city that slugged above its weight to make this happen.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
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The captain had reportedly appealed to the sultan for reinforcements, hoping to fortify Goa and, from that stronghold, expel the Portuguese from India so that the spice trade might once again flow via the Red Sea route toward Mecca and Cairo.—
Sanat Pai RaikarAll,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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On the water, the 55-year-old mother seems to come alive, her adventurous spirit radiating outward, lighting her from the inside out.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Shouldn’t in-season improvement be well within the spirit of the Most Improved Player award?—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Delgado suffered a massive brain bleed during a competitive boxing match with another trainee the next morning and died a day later.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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But Cherry was the brains of the operation and frequently the mouth, and always the person who made sure that everything got done.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Hungary‘s media sector and Hollywood producers seeking its juicy tax incentive are readying for a new future after Péter Magyar’s Tisza party ended the 16-year rule of Viktor Orbán’s far-right rival Fidesz.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
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The plan, released on April 14, orders NASA, the Pentagon and the Department of Energy to ready a moon-orbiting nuclear power system for launch as soon as 2028.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The woman was found with three gunshot wounds to her chest, while the man was shot in the head, police said.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
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Another man, a 35-year-old, showed up at Temple Hospital's Episcopal Campus with a gunshot wound to his head, police said.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Psych (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/psych%20%28up%29. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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